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1721. The Sims (X-Box) review

Written on Sunday 6 April 2003 at 01:51 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

Just a bit after posting their review for The Sims on the GameCube, GameZone.com has also posted a review of the X-Box version. Unlike some other sites, these two reviews are different from each other - including the score. Here's a bit of the X-Box review:

"The artificial intelligence, though, sometimes seems more like stupidity. There have been times when guests have been standing in a narrow path, and there's no way for a Sim to get through. This can be a real pain when I absolutely have to get through, like to get to a schoolbus. The people will just continue to stand still and talk, completely ignoring me. It's not always the guests that are stupid, though; Sims often do considerably stupid things against your command, even when in a good mood. One time I told a man to go out and play basketball. When he got outside, he simply stood there. For the whole day. He'd ignore me when I told him to stop playing, and he got hungry, tired, mad, and ended up draining his radiator, so to speak, right on the cement. Eventually, he just fell over asleep, and came inside the next day, in a terrible mood. I figured it was just a fluke. But the next day, another member of the family went and did the exact same thing! It's certainly not a good thing. Usually things aren't that drastic, though - it's generally just stupid little mistakes they make, like walking into the bathroom when someone is on the toilet."

For the complete review which rates the game 7.5 out of 10 (against 8.5 out of 10 for the GameCube version), click here. For more reviews of this game, visit our review index.

1722. GameZone reviews The Sims

Written on Saturday 5 April 2003 at 00:25 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

We've added another review of The Sims on the GameCube and X-Box to our review index. This time, from GameZone.com, and they tested the game on the GameCube. In one paragraph of the review, they talk about the difference in graphics between the PlayStation2 and the GameCube versions:

"The graphics are a lot smoother and crisper than the PS2 version, but they don’t really flex the GameCube’s graphical muscle. Although the animations have been cleaned up quite a bit, the characters still have the strange robotic movements and patterns that they had previously, and the textures look pretty muddy up close. On the whole, the GameCube version has better graphics, but they still aren’t anything to get excited about."

You can read the whole thing here. For more reviews, including those for the X-Box version of The Sims, check out our review index.

1723. SimDay Report: 1 article

Written on Thursday 3 April 2003 at 23:41 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

This week's Simday is probably even lamer than last week's simday. There's just one link, to one article about Superstar. And then it's not even completely about Superstar, but it discusses several other games too. Here's what USAToday.com has to say about the upcoming expansion pack for The Sims:

"Think it's easy being a celebrity? The Sims: Superstar will allow players to turn their humble Sims into glamorous celebrities by having them pursue careers as actors, rock stars or supermodels. The new hub in the game is known as "Studio Town," which is home to recording studios, TV networks, movie lots and a spa. Just as in real life, fame and fortune mean a more comfy lifestyle with extra bucks to throw around for expensive art, swanky furniture, a personal butler or masseuse, and more.

"Can you handle the paparazzi and groupies? Find out in May."

Sounds like a small press release from EA. The whole article is about how expansion packs breathe new life into old games. You can read the whole article right here.

1724. New poll

Written on Thursday 3 April 2003 at 02:00 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

Opinions are divided over whether Maxis should release The Sims 2 or even more expansion packs for The Sims 1.0 after the upcoming Superstar. You voted a lot (278 people voted), and the results are tight. 78 Of you (28%) wants The Sims 2, and no more expansions. With just 5 people more (83 votes, 30%), the people who absolutely want more expansion packs are with the most out of those two. However, if we include the bits in between, The Sims 2 is actually more wanted. 53 people (19%) prefer The Sims 2, but won't mind more expansion packs either. 17 people less (36 people, 13%) prefer expansions over The Sims 2. That makes 131 people (47%) pro-The Sims 2, and 119 (43%) pro-expansions. Just 5% (14 people) won't buy either of them. The remaining 5% (also 14 votes) say their computer won't be able to handle more. For a nice list of the results, go here.

Our new poll is about the method of installing downloads. There are several ways you can do this: either using WinZip and do it manually, using tools like SimsZip, SimFileMaid or SimUnzip (together with The Neighborhood Handler or not), or you only download self-extracting files. Please let us know what you use by voting in this week's poll on the right or on this page. For our poll archive, click here.

1725. Another donation file

Written on Wednesday 2 April 2003 at 01:10 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

Time for a bit of serious news, after the several fake things (Virus in The Sims Online, The Sims 2 Preview and "EA Announces Plans For The Sims PC Game Reviewer"). We've added another donation file, this is one from Sumit. He's made another double column, this time in gold. His first edition proved to be popular, but this one's even better! Together with the sidebar and the TSZ skins it's definately worth a donation which will be spent only the right way! Please donate, help us out, and download this great column!

1726. "EA Announces Plans For The Sims PC Game Reviewer"

Written on Wednesday 2 April 2003 at 01:06 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

That's a new headline at the official site. It comes with a nice press release and a screenshot of this new expansion pack - while Superstar hasn't even been released yet!

"Players can now realize their fantasies of living out of a grey cube, eating nachos, and playing video games all day long. All new game play, new social interactions and a whole new in-game destination offer players an all access pass to the professional world of PC game reviewing. In The Sims PC Game Reviewer, The Sims are indolent co-workers in a highly politicized game of corporate ladder climbing and "reporting" for the ultimate payoff: free games and swag. (...)

"Typical of Maxis and true to the findings at PC Gamer, the new location has a set of amusing objects with unique game play, such as the Hidden Desk Flask, an Inflatable Doll, and Vending Machine Chips. In addition to the Booth Babe, new and zany NPC's include a Banal Editor, and Hapless Intern. Exciting new social interactions are also included such as "Ask to proofread," "Borrow a stapler," "Complain about games," and the hilarious new "Remind of deadline." They guarantee unlimited, open-ended fun and creativity. In The Sims PC Game Reviewer - if it's in the game reviewer, it's in the game!"

And here's the screenshot, with the typical name 'april_fools.jpg' (on the official site anyway) - which makes it all a bit too obvious doesn't it:

Another nice joke to be added to this year's list of april fool's pranks. Like our host, GTA3.Com, who pretended they were hacked - well done guys! Anyway, for the press release of "The Sims PC Game Reviewer", have a look over here - and yes, the page is called april_fools.html. The press release does have some nice (untrue) facts and (fake) quotes. Obvious: yes. But quite nice too. However, according to you many people don't want another expansion pack anymore - you can check the results of our latest poll for that. It's still running, so vote if you haven't done so already!

1727. The Sims 2 Preview

Written on Wednesday 2 April 2003 at 00:01 by ChEeTaH - 1 comment.

Yes, there is a preview of The Sims 2 at The Gamers Temple. It's the first that exists, even before any official announcement from Maxis. They say it will be in 3D ("get an underwater view from inside a hot tub"), Sims will age, there will be pets and downtown, old town and vacation island will be included in the game. There will also be a couple of new pets like horses etc. And: evil Sims:

"Now for one of the really big changes – your sims will now have a good/evil character trait. Good sims will behave a lot like sims in the current game, but evil sims will be a lot different. Evil sims enjoy homes filled with trash and broken objects, and must work to keep their relationship scores down with good sims. The more good sims that they have a rotten relationship with the better. To help evil sims out, there will be plenty of new evil interactions. Some will be simple slaps and bullying interactions, but others are going to be a lot more interesting. There is a pretty tight lid on what these actions will be, but we did learn about the “spread vicious rumor” interaction (particularly effective against sims that are trying to build up a good fame score). Good sims and evil sims do not get along, but evil sims will need to build relationships with other evil sims. Evil sims can marry and make little evil families, but if they build a high enough relationship with another evil sim you can use the “leave spouse” interaction to break up the unhappy little home. Finally there will be different career options for each type of sim. For example, only evil sims will be able to become career criminals. Both evil and good sims will be able to enter politics, though."

Too bad it's only an april fool's joke... But nevertheless, you might want to read their ideas (and post your own) right here.

1728. Virus in The Sims Online

Written on Tuesday 1 April 2003 at 03:04 by ChEeTaH - 1 comment.

The Sims Online has a virus on it. The virus, which automatically spread from Maxis to everybody who has played the game between 29 and 31 March. The virus wasn't detected by virusscanners, as one of the players of The Sims Online created it, and the virus was unknown so far. The virus is called W32.TSO.Worm. Maxis has apologized for this occuring:

"We are deeply sorry that this could occur. We detected the problem when the servers were sending a lot of data to our players, but we couldn't trace it back. It turned out to be this new virus. We have cleaned the servers, and so the virus won't be spread anymore. Users are now protected from getting it, but should still be aware if they have it. We'll release a clean-up patch to remove the virus from the player's computer as soon as possible."

Players will automatically be warned if they are infected when they play The Sims Online again.

The virus will block you from playing The Sims Online again, and it'll also automatically uninstall the game. However, your account won't be removed, so you keep paying for your account. This virus will trigger 14 April. Maxis is doing everything they can to prevent any damage.

The account of the creator of the virus has been traced back and is permanently blocked. For the next few weeks, Maxis will continuously monitor their servers for malicious traffic and content. An email will be sent to everybody who has played The Sims Online the past 3 days explaining the danger. The patch is expected to be finished later today or tomorrow, and is created by the programmers of Maxis together with Symantec, known of Norton Antivirus. We will keep you updated, and inform you as soon as the patch is available. For more precise details of what the virus does, click "read more". We advise everybody, including those who don't have TSO (it might also affect any other version of The Sims), to do this. Read More!

1729. New donation files

Written on Tuesday 1 April 2003 at 02:01 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

No, this is no joke. As usual, we've added donation files again. It's april now, and the files that were locked because they were the donation files for January have been unlocked and you can download them for free now. This month, we have a special download too: a "The Sims Zone Sidebar"! If you don't want to visit us to check the latest headlines, or to see if we have any new files, or just see a bunch of links to other fansites, then this is THE solution for you. This sidebar will install in your browser, and show up on the left of your browser window (like the search panel). Of course you can also hide it if you want. It will automatically update itself, and always download the latest headlines for you. You can visit other sites with the sidebar open like you're used to, and of course there are links to all the fansites in our database on it too! We might be adding even more in the future, and you won't even have to update anything.

As special for your Sims, Jen has designed a nice clothing set, The Sims Zone style. Your Sims can now wear clothes with The Sims Zone's logo on it. You can get that, and the sidebar, if you donate. More donation files will be added later this month.

1730. The Sims GameCube and X-Box reviews

Written on Thursday 27 March 2003 at 23:59 by ChEeTaH - 0 comments.

GameSpot has posted their review of The Sims on the GameCube and X-Box, in flavours for both platforms. Here's a snippet:

"In addition to the standard play mode and the "get a life" mode, The Sims has two different multiplayer modes that let players play cooperatively and competitively. The competitive multiplayer is pretty simplistic and not terribly entertaining--it plays out on a split screen and challenges opposing players to do things like pick up trash faster than each other or cook faster than each other. The cooperative multiplayer is more interesting, since it lets two players play a standard game of The Sims together. It's possible that serious fans of The Sims might try to play a co-op game and skillfully and efficiently split jobs and housework between them. However, it's much easier to visualize the game's co-op mode as a compromise for real-life couples who have argued about spending time together as opposed to spending time playing video games."

Both reviews are identical, except for the platform's name it mentions (either GameCube or X-Box). For the GameCube flavoured version, click here. If you'd rather see the X-Box look, visit this page. Finally, for our review index with more reviews of this game, click here.